Compare towns
Topsham vs Lancaster vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Topsham | Lancaster | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 999Lowest |
2,230Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,006 28% above U.S. |
$4,225Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Waits River Union High District #36 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.